The Founder

Bachir Mihoubi is founder and Managing Director of FranCounsel Group (FCG), an international business development consultancy. Before forming FCG, Mr. Mihoubi worked as an international transactions attorney with several major U.S. law firms, representing both foreign clients doing business in the U.S. and American companies with international business interests. He was International Corporate Counsel for AFC Enterprises (which operated more than 4,000 cafes, restaurants, and bakeries in the U.S. and internationally). He also served as Director of International Development for Cinnabon, Director of International Development for Seattle’s Best Coffee, and Vice President of Global Licensing for Caribou Coffee Company. Bachir serves as an advisor/investor to several Boards of Directors of major U.S. and Canadian brands. Bachir developed several well known brands in more than 30 countries.

Bachir was awarded the Cambridge English Proficiency Diploma by the University of Cambridge, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Montreal, a J.D. from the University of Ottawa School of Law (Degree completed in French), and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin.

Professional Activities and Memberships

Member of the Georgia Bar Association (International Franchise Section)

Member of the International Bar Association

Member of the International Franchise Association (International and Membership Committees)

Member of the Southeast Franchise Forum

Lectures extensively on international law, licensing and business development in numerous countries

Guest Lecturer at numerous Universities internationally

Assisted the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commercial Law Development Program) as an Expert Franchise Advisor in legal and business matters to the governments of several countries in North Africa and the Middle East

Currently Expert-in-Residence for the Department of Commerce (with full clearance)

Advisor to numerous American franchise companies on international expansion

Member of the Board of Overseers for the Centre des Etudes Francaises et Francophones

Founder of the U.S. North African Business Council

Author of numerous articles on commercial and legal licensing subjects

Languages

English, French, Arabic (modern standard and colloquial dialects), and Spanish; working knowledge of Italian and Portuguese